Michael Waltrip to visit with fans at I-96 Speedway

Michael Waltrip has all the rest of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers beaten when it comes to self-deprecating humor after years of poking fun at himself in his NAPA Auto Parts television spots.

A parrot mocks him in one commercial, telling Waltrip, "55 is your number, Michael, not the speed limit." In another, he pulls out his "supportive fan mail" and tells Jessie in Kansas City, "I don't know what type of racer your half-blind grandma is, but I'll take it as a compliment."

But there is one commercial Waltrip likes the best of all.

"My all-time favorite is the one where I say, 'I'm at the wrong track,' " Waltrip said. "That one fits my personality the best. While I like to think that I'm pretty serious, I do like to have fun. If you can't make fun of yourself, how are you going to make fun of others.

"I have to give a lot of credit to NAPA, though. I'm not a funny guy, but they do a nice job."

Waltrip will race in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway, but if you see him Friday night at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, don't jump to the conclusion that he is lost again.

The two-time Daytona 500 winner will be signing autographs, mugging for photos and taking select fans around the I-96 dirt oval in Late Model rides during Friday's 7:30 p.m. program, which will feature the track's weekly classes.

Kenny Wallace was scheduled to appear at I-96, but those plans changed because he is competing in this weekend's NASCAR Nationwide race at Kentucky Speedway. Wallace contacted Waltrip and asked him to help out. Waltrip jumped at the chance.

"I just want to tell all the fans at I-96 that I'm coming there to goof off," said Waltrip, 45. "I love it when I get a chance to do these type of things. They are special times for me because all I have to do is just goof off with the fans. I love short-track racing, and I love it when I get the opportunity to go there."

Waltrip has managed to maintain his sense of humor, even though he has struggled since leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the conclusion of the 2006 season.

He started his own team and hooked up with Toyota during its introduction to Cup racing last year.

Take a new team and a new manufacturer, and the result was disaster. Waltrip qualified for only 14 of 36 races.

The team has made strides this year. While Waltrip is 35th in points, he has qualified for each of the first 14 races heading into MIS. Plus, teammate David Reutimann is 25th in the standings.

"This isn't like the NFL when you have an expansion team that can sign free agents and take players off of other teams," Waltrip said. "With racing, we are going against guys that have 20 to 30 years of experience, and it's hard to get rooted in it.

"We have definitely made progress, but it is so difficult to get a foothold in the sport. We are gaining, and we are proud of the progress we have made. Every day, we get smarter and faster."